More than 2,500 mostly unionized workers at Tyson’s Joslin, Illinois, beef plant were given little notice of a closure after the company said it would provide the 60 days of layoff pay required by state law.
Tyson blamed a historic U.S. cattle shortage that has squeezed processors, lifted grocery-store beef prices and left too much slaughter capacity for too few animals; the Joslin plant could handle up to 3,000 cattle a day.
The company is shifting production to Amarillo, Holcomb and Dakota City, after also shutting a smaller Utah plant and seeking a buyer for a Washington facility.
Illinois officials from both parties have started coordinating aid for affected families and future uses for the site, as the Quad Cities economy was already weakening and agriculture had been hurt by tariffs.